Goldi Locks and the LF Cameras

DanMcGuire · Sep 27, 2006

I was interested if anyone else has had run into the same situation that I find myself in. I looked at 8X10...tooo big. I bought 4X5...tooo small. I'm thinking about 5X7...(just right?)

I look around and am nervous about the film availability.

So I will ask this group, what is the future of 5X7

Thank You

Jim Noel · Sep 27, 2006

Among my users, I have at least one of each of the sizes you mention.
Film is not a concern for any of them so long as I think ahead. I order all of my film rather than depend on a local store, most of which are now digital only,to order it for me.
In 5x7 I use Ilford and several films from JandC. I order in reasonably large quantities and store them in a refrigerator devoted to film, paper and chemicals which need refirgeration.

Claire Senft · Sep 27, 2006

My glass cleaner is out. I expect a new shipment on Crystalex on Tuesday next. Once I have the cleaner and more meaningful view I will then tell you "beats the shit out of me" . At the moment all I can say is I do not know.

TheFlyingCamera · Sep 27, 2006

Can't tell you the future of 5x7 any better than the future of any large format, but it is a VERY nice format to shoot, and there are a good variety of films for it so long as you want b/w. If you want to shoot color, well, there's about three transparency films and one color negative, two if you feel like dropping a mint and ordering direct from Japan. I just took a 5x7 on a very long-distance international road trip, and it worked out great.

John Kasaian · Sep 27, 2006

Dan,
8x10 too big? Are you serious?

5x7 is a nice format. I shoot both 5x7 and 8x10 and I don't worry about film (B&W film anyway) In my convaluted way of looking at things 5x7 outshines
4x5 (what 4x5 does have going for it is polaroid type 55 and of course lots of choices when it comes to color film) Theres lots of nice cheap old 4x5 cameras that accept 5x7 backs lilke my Agfa Ansco, so the leap to 5x7 is really quite painless for most of us with old wooden cameras---but 5x7 isn't
8x10---not by a long shot IMHO. 5x7 will give you very nice contacts and a very pleasant perspective, especially for portraiture.
...But its not 8x10. If your passion is to shoot an 8x10, then I think you'll be happier in the long run getting an 8x10.

Good Luck!

Capocheny · Sep 27, 2006

Dan,

Do like I did... buy a 5x7 with a 4x5 reducing back. Then, buy an 8x10 as a back-up.

You'll have ALL your bases covered!

Anyway, there's plenty of film available and you won't need to worry about running out of the stuff.

As well, there seems to be a resurgence of folks shooting 5x7.

[BTW, you can also cut 8x10 film down to 5x7.]

Anyway... check the following links from View Camera Magazine:

http://www.viewcamera.com/pdf/2006/future.pdf
http://www.viewcamera.com/pdf/2006/5x713x18filmtable.pdf

To summarize, don't worry about the lack of film. Just buy a camera, buy some film, go out and shoot... and, above all, have fun!!!

Cheers

BradS · Sep 27, 2006

Kodak 320TXP Tri-X, Ilford FP-4+ and HP-5+ all seem to be widely available in 5x7. Interest in 5x7 and large format in general seems to be growing (dramatically). It's purely speculation of course, but I'm betting that 5x7 film will be available for as long as we buy it. Only time will tell and all that rubish...why worry about it. Life is short. Enjoy it while you can.

Ole · Sep 28, 2006

Adding 13x18cm to the list of 5x7" films, there's suddenly a lot more films to choose from. Just don't try to fit them in the same holders...

naturephoto1 · Sep 28, 2006

Hi Dan,

The largest format that I shoot is 4 X 5. I use a Linhof Technikardan 45S. But, I am a transparency shooter and I do not shoot (or haven't shot in a very long time) any B&W. I have yet to try anything larger- 5 X 7 or 8 X 10. I like having and using preloaded Fuji QL (or Kodak Readyload) film. I do not have a dark room and I used to load my holders (regular and Mido) in a changing bag, but would get too much dust in them. The size and the cost of per sheet of color transparency film in larger formats and camera sizes tend to steer me away from them. This is in part due to having to carry the equipment too far from the vehicle and for the purpose of day (some long) hikes and backpacking (though short) trips. But, I start my equipment at the short end starting with my Leica R series SLRs, run through my medium format and end at the 4 x 5.

Rich

Nick Zentena · Sep 28, 2006

You can fit a fair bit of film in the freezer -) My 5x7 also has a 4x5 back. Not just for shooting 4x5 film but for mounting rollfilm backs.

removed account4 · Sep 28, 2006

hi dan

there's lots of film out there. and from what all the soothsayers say, they will be around for a while. i shoot the 3 magi ( 4x5, 5x7 + 8x10 ) of the 3 5x7 is my favorite.

- good luck!

-john

DanMcGuire · Sep 28, 2006

Thanks

Thanks for all those who answered my question

Some of you were correct, asking you to predict the future was unfair. But I did get an idea that the people in this forum reminded me of the old American Pioneers. Not afraid of venturing out into uncharted territory, and reaping the rewards.

Dan McGuire

Ole · Sep 28, 2006

What's so "uncharted" about 5x7"?

My favorite textbook (written in 1910) recommends 13x18cm (5x7") as "the smallest format for professional photography". It also states that 24x30cm (9.5x12") is the largest practically portable format, a statement with which I have come to agree after attempting to haul a 30x40cm (12x16") camera out of the car.

Terence · Sep 28, 2006

As has been stated, 5x7 is much more portable than 8x10. And if you keep an eye out, you can pick up an old Elwood 5x7 enlarger for a song. I got one in great condition for $50. I haven't used it yet, and I know they can be finicky, but for $50 I can live with that.

As for film, J&C often has various 8x10 films discounted, that with minor effort can be cut down to 5x7 at half the cost of buying 5x7 film. I've hoarded enough film to last me a few years. As I use it, I buy new stuff and rotate through it.

That said, an 8x10 contact print is a thing of beauty.

Claire Senft · Sep 28, 2006

Ole things have changed a bit since 1910. I am sure that those that use ULF have discovered long ago that it is much easier to take cameras exceeding 9.5x12 off the bed of a stake truck than from an automobile.

This is the proven procedure:
Remove the gate to the stake truck. Remove the mules from the stake truck. Use the winch to place the ULF camera and assorted equipment from the truck bed unto the mule packs. Open the truck's cab and remove your photographic mule whip. Now, go take your photos.

Now, do you not feel better knowing that you no longer are stuck so close to the minimum recommended film size? I am sure that slapping a 12x16 negative in to your 12x16 Durst will allow you to make a rather nice 16x20.

TheFlyingCamera · Sep 28, 2006

Terence said:
As has been stated, 5x7 is much more portable than 8x10. And if you keep an eye out, you can pick up an old Elwood 5x7 enlarger for a song. I got one in great condition for $50. I haven't used it yet, and I know they can be finicky, but for $50 I can live with that.

As for film, J&C often has various 8x10 films discounted, that with minor effort can be cut down to 5x7 at half the cost of buying 5x7 film. I've hoarded enough film to last me a few years. As I use it, I buy new stuff and rotate through it.

That said, an 8x10 contact print is a thing of beauty.

Don't forget the much under-appreciated Arista films at Freestyle. The Arista EDU Ultra 200 is actually re-packaged Fomapan 200, which is a wonderful film. It is silly cheap- about $30-35 for a box of 25 sheets of 5x7, making it only marginally more expensive than Ilford FP4+ in 4x5. Now THAT's a deal. If you want to see some results with this film, I have a number of palladium prints posted in my gallery here on APUG that were shot on this film.

Sal Santamaura · Sep 28, 2006

DanMcGuire said:
...Not afraid of venturing out into uncharted territory, and reaping the rewards.

If you want rewards, follow me here:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showpost.php?p=183740&postcount=18

jimgalli · Sep 28, 2006

Dan, buy the next 5,000 foot roll of PlusX Aerial Recon 5" film on Ebay....and relax. It's great film and does well in the freezer.

DanMcGuire · Sep 28, 2006

Sal Santamaura said:
If you want rewards, follow me here:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showpost.php?p=183740&postcount=18

My mother always said "Great minds think alike, and fools seldom differ"

I am just glad to know that I am not the only person who thinks this way.

I have just aquired 5 5X7 film holders and I have made up my mind to jump in with both feet.

Damn the torpedoes! Full steam ahead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Terence · Sep 28, 2006

jimgalli said:
Dan, buy the next 5,000 foot roll of PlusX Aerial Recon 5" film on Ebay....and relax. It's great film and does well in the freezer.

I haven't seen anything bigger than 500' in a long, long time. Have I just missed it?

And just how big across is a 5,000' roll? I'm picturing a giant wheel of cheese.

Amund · Sep 28, 2006

TheFlyingCamera said:
Don't forget the much under-appreciated Arista films at Freestyle. The Arista EDU Ultra 200 is actually re-packaged Fomapan 200, which is a wonderful film. It is silly cheap- about $30-35 for a box of 25 sheets of 5x7,

It`s actually $15.99 for 25 sheets of 5x7

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_prod.php?cat_id=&pid=1000001244

Goldi Locks and the LF Cameras

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